To Nereos, God of the Sea Floor

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 10, 2016​

23. Νηρέως, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Nereos, God of the Sea Floor
Divine connection: myrrh
 
Ὦ κατέχων πόντου ῥίζας, κυαναυγέτιν ἕδρην,
Bring forth he who holds fast Pontos’[1] roots in his deep cyan blue-lit dwelling,
 
πεντήκοντα κόρῃσιν ἀγαλλόμενος κατὰ κῦμα
Whose fifty mischievous daughters’[2] gloriously power pure swollen waves--
 
καλλιτέκνοισι χοροῖς, Νηρεῦ, μεγαλώνυμε δαῖμον,
Beautiful child-chorus of Nereos[3], exalted deity,
 
πυθμὴν μὲν πόντου, γαίης πέρας, ἀρχὴ ἁπάντων,
Underlying power of Pontos, Gaia[4]-bounded foundation met all ‘round,
 
ὃς κλονέεις Δηοῦς ἱερὸν βάθρον, ἡνίκα πνοιὰς
Rushing wildly at Demeter’s sacred base when winds
 
ἐννυχίοις κευθμῶσιν ἐλαυνομένας ἀποκλείηις·
By night concealed drive powerfully to enclose.
 
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, σεισμοὺς μὲν ἀπότρεπε, πέμπε δὲ μύσταις
Yet, blessed seismic power, turn away, conduct the mystae[5]
 
ὄλβον τ', εἰρήνην τε, καὶ ἠπιόχειρον ὑγείην.
To whole life blessings, with the peace of Eirene[6], and the soothing hand of Hygeia[7].
 


[1] Pontos, the immortal God of the Sea, is the father of Nereos by Gaia, Goddess of generative earth.

[2] Nereos’ fifty daughters are the Nereids, immortal Goddesses of various aspects of the sea, such as the sea’s brine, foam, sand, rocky shores, waves, currents, sea rescues, and necessary naval skills.

[3] Nereos is the immortal God of the sea floor, particularly the Aegean Sea, literally "tipping-point (Ν) + center of (η) + flow/flux (ρέως)."

[4] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.

[5] Mystae are initiates in the Mysteries.

[6] Eirene is the immortal Goddess of peace.

[7] Hygeia is the immortal Goddess of health.